Yieldable gearing.



PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

Nol 865,486.

T. "H. GANNN.

* No. sesfise.

UNITED STATES onsles;.'`

@THOMAS H; GANNON, QF SPRINGFIELD, oHio.

YIELDAB'LE GEARING.

abnormal strain.

The object of the invention is to provide a gearing of this character in which the driving member will be yieldablyV connected toIthe driven member by a rotatable locking part adapted to positively lock the members together and causing them to rotate in unison g under normal conditions and to yield to permit the driving member to rotate continuously independently of the driven member when the latter is subjected to abnormal strain, thely construction of the-locking part and its coperating mechanism being such as to minimize the liability of the locking part binding and refusing to operate or being tardy in its operation; to provide an improved operationof the gearing by facilitating the escape of the locking part from the locking recess, due to the tendency of-the'rotatablelocking 'part to roll or climb out of the locking recess when pressure is applied thereto' to eliminate the chipping or wearing away of the-edges of the locking recesses incident to the use bf anon-rotatable locking part; and to improve the construction and arrangement of the gearing to permit the same to be inserted in the ordinary train of gearing.

With these objects in View, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction to be hereinafter described, and then more fully pointed out in the claims.

In theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional View taken longitudinally of the shaft; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the gear partially broken away.

ln these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention, in which the reference numeral 1 indicates the shaft which is connected with the part or mechanism to be driven and which has loosely mounted on the outer end theroef a gear 2 which is preferably of the usual construction and is provided with a series of recesses 3 in the rear or inner face thereof. These recesses maybe of any suitable shape and number, but I prefer that the same should conform to theA segment of a sphere and should be of a depth equal to somewhat less than one-half the diameter of the sphere. These recesses are arranged concentric with the shaftand I have here shown them spaced. but`a short distance apart and extending entirely around the' shaft. A driven or clutch member 4 is rigidly-secured to the Specification of'Letters Patent.

.Application file-l Isreh 28, 1907.

Patented sept'. 1o, 1907. l

sain so. 364.985.

, l shaft 1 in the rear 'of the gear 2 and is preferably provided with a recess adapted to receivev the hub of the gear.' This clutch member is provided witha series of recesses 5, preferably four in number and extending -parallel with the shaft v1 and arranged at a distance l`therefrom corresponding to the arrangement of the re? cesses 3 Slidabiy mounted in each of the'recesses 5 is a bearing block or follower 6 having at its inner end a lug or projection 7 about which is coiled one end of a spring 8, the opposite end of which bears against a plate or disk 9 slidably mounted in the end of the recess 5 furthest removed from the gear 2 A screw l() extends through the end Wall of the recess in longitudinal alinement therewith and serves to vary the position of the disk 9 relatively to the bearing block 6 to adjust the tension of the spring 8. The bearing block 6 is provided in its outer face with a. recess 1l which preferably conforms to the segment of a sphere and islof a depth slightly greater than the diameter of the sphere. Loosely mounted in the recess 11 is a rotatable locking part, such as the hard steel ball 12 of a diameter correspending substantially to the diameter ofthe recess, and, inasmuch as the recess l1 is of a depth greater than half the diameter of the sphere, the greater portion of soA gear 2, and, as this recess is of a depth less than half the diameter of the sphere, the edge of the recess will engage the surface of the hall l2 at some distance below the Center thereof. The tension of the spring 8 is such as to retain the balls 12 in engagement with the several recesses 3 of the gear 2 and tocause the gear 2 and the clutch member 4 to rotate in unison under normal con,- ditions, but the tension of the spring is so regulated that in case the driven part or mechanism is subjected to an abnormal strain, the spring will compress and allow the balls to escape from the several recesses 3., thus '.llowing the gear 2 to rotate independently of the clutch'member 4.

It will be observed that by providing the rotatable locking parts or balls an'd making the locking recesses in the gear of a depth less than the diameter of the rotating part, this part is brought into engagement with the edge of the recess at adistance below the center y Where the lateral inclination is considerable; and fury ther', lthat when pressure is applied to the rotatable locking part the same will be inclined to rotate about its part further brings all portions of the surface thereof Vvtatable locking part loosely supported by one of said mem the recess inthe other member.

into engagement with the edge of the locking recess,

thus equalizing the wear and bringing thestrain upon different parts of the roller,l thereby prolonging the life and service of the same; and it will further be observed that the construction and arrangement of the parts of my improved gearing is such that the same occupies but little more space than the ordinary gearing and can be readily'r adapted to the ordinary train of gearing without material changes'therein.

I wish it to be understood that Iv do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person siu'lled in the art.

Having 4thus fully described claim as new and 'desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In e gearing or the character described, the combinemy invention, what I tion, with a shaft, a gear mounted an said shaft 'and having n recess in'one side thereof, a clutch member mounted on suid shaft and having a recess in the side adjacent to said gear, one of said membersbelng loosely mounted on v said shaft and the other member fined thereto, of a robersV 'and adapted to automatically. engage and disengg 2. In a gearing of the character' described, the combination, with a shaft, a gear mounted Aon 4said shaft and having a recessis one side thereof, a lclutch member mounted adjacent to said gear, one'of said members being loosely y mounted on said shaft and the other member fixed thereto,

of a rotatable locking part loosely supported by one of' said members, a-ndvyieldable 'means for retaining said locktion, with a shaft, a gear-,loosely mounted on said shaft and having a recess rn one fa'ce thereof, and a clutch member 'fixed to said shaft, of a rotatable locking part loosely mounted in said clutch member, and yieldable means for retaining the same normally in locking engagement with i the recess in said gear.

4. ln a gearing of tbe-character described, the combina lng a recess in one side thereof, a clutch member mounted on said shaft and having a recess in the side adjacent to i said gear, o'ne of said members vbeing loosely mounted on said shaft and vthe other member iixed thereto, of a ball E escasa and having a recess in one face thereof, and a clutch member fixed to said shaft, of a ball carried by said clutch member and adapted to engage the recess in said gear.

6. fn a 'gea-ring of the vcharacter described, the combination, with a shaft, a gear loosely mounted on said shaft and having a recess in one face thereof, and a clutch member fixed to- 'said shaft, of a ball. carried by said/clutch member and adapted to engage the recess ln said gear, and yieldable means for retaining said ball in engagement with said recess.

7. In a gearing of the character described, the combination, with n shaft, and a Agear loosely mounted on said shaft and having a recess in one face thereof, of a clutch member fixed to said shaft and having a recess therein, a spring-pressed bearing block mounted in said recess and provided with a seat, and a rotatable locking part loosely mounted in said seat and adapted to engage the recess in said gear. i

8. ln a gearing of the character described, the combination, with a shaft, and a gear loosely mounted on said shaft and having a recess ln onei'ace thereof, of a clutch member fixed to said shaft -and having a recess therein, a

bearing block slidahly mounted in said recess, a spring confined in said recess and engaging said bearing block, means for adjusting 'the tension of said spring, and a rotatable locking part loosely mounted in said bearing block and adapted to engage the recess in said gear.

9. In -a gearing of the character described, the combination, with a shaftQand a gear loosely mounted on said shaftand having a series-'of recesses in one face thereof, 'of a clutch member xed to said shaft and having a series. of recesses therin, a spring-pressed bearing block mounted in each of said recesses, a 'rotatable locking .part loosely mounted in each of said bearing blocks and adapted to engage one of the recesses in said gear, the number of recesses in said gear being greater than the number of on said shaft and having a recess -in the side thereof',

locking parte.

10. In a gearing of the character described, the combination, with a shaft, a gear mounted on said shaft, and a -clutch member mounted on said shaft, one ofsald members being loosely mounted on said shaft and the other mem- 'ber fixed thereto, 'of a rotatable locking part loosely mounted ln one' of said members, the other member having a recess adapted to be engaged-by said locking part.

11. In a gearing of the character described, the lcombination, with a shaft, and a gear loosely mounted on said shaft and having a .plurality of recesses i'n one face thereof, of -u clutch member fixed to said shaft having a recess extendlng substantially parallel to -said shaft, a spring-pressed bearing block mounted in said recess and having a bearing formed therein, and a rotatable 4locking part supported in Y tion, with a shaft, a gear mounted un said shaft Aand havsaid 'bearing and adapted to engage one of the in said geur.

In testimony whereof, l aihxmy signature in presence of two witnesses. i

THOMAS H. GANNON.

Witnesses:

A. C. LINK,

EDWARD S. Ruso. 

